Today the Ministry of Defence is meeting with Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to discuss exchanging the fur hats of the guards of Buckingham Palace, which arguably made them so recognisably British, with fake fur substitutes.

The MoD, in keeping with fashion's current ethical concerns, wants to move towards modernising its uniforms: it has already changed the leopardskin aprons of its ceremonial drummers to a synthetic substitute, and is in the process of talking to designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney to find a completely new design for the guards' headwear. However, they don't seem to be having much luck: a spokeswoman commented that though the MoD is not opposed to the idea of alternative materials, "Regrettably, a suitable alternative continues to prove elusive".

Should the MoD substitute their historically important hats, which date back to the Battle of Waterloo? What alternatives are there?